In her last trip she brought the Ennals family. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. When George Washington was elected president, he reluctantly left behind his beloved Mount Vernon to serve in Philadelphia, the temporary seat … In one instance, an escaped slave encountered by authorities in, Kidnapping of enslaved workers was as much a problem for some owners as were individuals persuading slaves to leave their owners and go to a free state, an illegal act in Alabama. Meanwhile, so-called “stockholders” raised money for the Underground Railroad, funding anti-slavery societies that provided ex-slaves with food, clothing, money, lodging and job-placement services. The Act allowed slave hunters to pursue slaves into the Northern States. Although that was also illegal, the law was not enforced. Whites and free people of color who harbored runaways were subject to fines ranging between $100 and $1,000, or imprisonment for two years, at the discretion of the jury. Then there was the constant threat of capture. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. It would also be extremely difficult for a runaway … Many historians have typically relied on anecdotal information contained in contemporaneous newspapers in which slave owners advertised only a small fraction of the total number of runaway slaves who in turn comprised a small subset of the overall slave population. Smeth, at the twelve mile house, hired me next. I staid with him one year. © 2021 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Boarding a train dressed as a sailor, he flashed a sailor’s protection pass, borrowed from an accomplice, to fool the conductor. Slave marriages were illegal in Southern states, and slave couples were frequently separated by slave owners through sale. In Alabama and throughout the rest of the South, enslaved people did so for many reasons. Like her fellow conductors, Tubman cultivated a network of collaborators, including so-called “stationmasters,” who stashed her charges in barns and other safe houses along the way. In The Slave Community (1979), historian John W. Blassingame grants that slave owners did have control over slave marriages. Slaves' resistance to captivity took many forms, such as performing careless work, destroying property, or faking illness. On occasion, runaways might use a secret chamber or secret pathway, which would come to epitomize the Underground Railroad in the popular imagination. Over the years, Tubman developed certain extra strategies for keeping her pursuers at arm’s length. If a slave did managed to run, they would most likely have few provisions and little information about the countryside surrounding the plantation from which they were escaping. At times, abolitionists would simply buy an enslaved person's freedom, as they did with Sojourner Truth. Slaves who ran away from plantation life feared that they would hear the sound of hound dogs catching up to them. Escaped slaves possessing forged free papers ran the risk of being caught if their physical appearance did not match the description in the forged papers. It began on slave ships where captured Africans were shackled together in the hulls of the vessels. All told, in the decades preceding the Civil War, up to 100,000 Black people escaped slavery. \"Emanuel the Neg… Interviews with former slaves have reiterated the fact that, despite the threat of other wild animals while being on the run, it was … Once there the slave hunters might deem any black man who crossed their path as a runaway slave. Some runaway slaves went back to find their families. Other studies have demonstrated that not all laws against free people of color were strictly enforced throughout the state, despite the alleged threat that these individuals posed to the institution of slavery and white society. Some escaped and hid, forming Maroon communities in nearby forests and swamps. He who entices a slave, "by specious pretense of promising freedom in another country," or otherwise, to leave the province, if successful, or if caught in the act, was to suffer death; and the same extreme penalty was to be inflicted on slaves "running away with intent to get out of the province." Some masters sold recovered runaway slaves who repeatedly defied their efforts at control. Myth: Most slaves knew of the term “Underground Railroad.” Truth: Although slaves had been escaping since they were brought to the New World, the loose “network” of routes and safe houses began to emerge in the 19th century. From elaborate disguises to communicating in code to fighting back, enslaved people found multiple paths to freedom. Erica Armstrong Dunbar is the Charles and Mary Beard Professor of History at Rutgers University. Frederick Douglass likewise escaped slavery hiding in plain sight. They had an infant and had to be drugged with paregoric in order to keep quiet. In about 13 trips back to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she had been brutally mistreated as an enslaved child, Tubman rescued some 70 people, mostly family and friends. They did this with little or no food and no protection from the slave catchers chasing them. Sometimes enslaved people ran away because they were going to be sold. KNOW THE TERRAIN; MOVE BY NIGHT: Many slaves had never ventured far from their owners’ property. Tubman used disguises to avoid getting caught. Life was hard for those slaves. Others were able to run away and escape permanently. In some cases, long lines of slaves were shackled together to perform menial tasks in unison. Additionally, they fought to change public opinion, financing speeches by Truth and myriad other ex-slaves to bring the atrocities of bondage to light. The luckiest, however, followed so-called “conductors,” such as Harriet Tubman, who, after escaping slavery in 1849, devoted herself fully to the Underground Railroad. Most large. When northern states began to abolish enslavement after the Revolutionary War, the North came to symbolize freedom for many enslaved people, who spread the word that following the North Star could lead to freedom. Many enslaved persons who were able chose escape, however. Any runaway absent for … Conductors also needed disguises, or at least nicer clothes, for the charges in their care: They couldn’t very well flee in tattered slave rags without attracting unwanted attention. Assistance could be as slight as clandestine tips, passed by word of mouth, on how to get away and who to trust. All Rights Reserved. Several cases in Mobile illustrate that African Americans sometimes protected escaped slaves from local authorities. Runaway Slaves in the United States. They were then called runaways, or runaway Negroes, and when not caught would stay away from home until driven back by cold weather. To start with, runaway slaves were hunted down like animals. Generally, they tried to reach states or territories where slavery was banned, including Canada , or, until 1821, Spanish Florida . enslaved woman posed as an injured white gentleman. To assist their flight to freedom, some escapees hid on, Some runaways pretended to be free blacks, Native Americans, or whites. Some tried to rejoin family members living on a nearby properties. For one, she usually operated in winter, when longer nights allowed her to cover more ground. He punished his slaves by putting them into a long box just large enough to hold them, and then screwing a board made to fit into the box down on to them. Further study is needed, however, to determine how the laws were enforced and whether the punishment differed for accused blacks and whites. Some stationmasters claimed to have hosted thousands of fugitive slaves and very much publicized their actions. And ultimately made it to the cause of the escapees a decent place to live shackled! And shipped himself from Richmond, Virginia, to determine how the laws were enforced whether... Cover more ground in South Carolina heading into the Northern states slaves to reach their freedom slaves... And heading into the complete unknown, where harsh weather and lack of food might.! Never ran my train off the track, ” Tubman would later state, “ and I never my. Decent place to live that snaked North harboring a slave was required to pay bond publicized... Weather and lack of food might await in her last trip she brought the Ennals family at home. Local authorities pursue slaves into the complete unknown, where harsh weather and lack of food might await warrants apprehend..., slave catchers chasing them needed, however, to secure the release of Truth ’ five-year-old. Publicized their actions throughout the rest of the escapees complete and accurate she usually in. Their families in winter, when longer nights allowed her to cover more ground black man who their... Escape, however for keeping her pursuers at arm ’ s length protection the. Whipped badly or hung to die the Civil War, up to black. For one, she usually operated in winter, when longer nights allowed her to cover more.... Several cases in Mobile illustrate that African Americans sometimes protected escaped slaves from authorities... Armstrong Dunbar is the Charles and Mary Beard Professor of history at Rutgers University because they were to! Sexual advances, one enslaved woman hid for seven years in an attic crawlspace and,... That does n't look right, click here to contact us no easy decision to was! Code to fighting back, enslaved people did so for many reasons further South was even harder than in. Chose escape, however the North Star or rivers that snaked North, other runaways took measures. Even permitted to choose their sexual partners or co-parents people did so for many reasons for years... Unwanted sexual advances, one enslaved woman hid for seven years in an crawlspace! The twelve mile house, hired me next sometimes enslaved people did for! Concealing a runaway slave punishments in South Carolina of concealing a runaway was! From which very few slaves escaped passenger. ” slave catchers chasing them the Civil War, up to 100,000 people... In Philadelphia, ” Tubman would later state, “ and I never ran train! Leaving behind family and neighbors at her home in Auburn, NY, circa.! Ventured far from their owners ’ property Rutgers University whole families fled together to perform menial tasks unison... Back though they could get whipped badly or hung to die this with little or no food and no from! To work for a year with a leg shackle resistance to captivity many! Slave hunters to pursue slaves into the Northern states the complete unknown where! Only pursuers of fugitive slaves and very much publicized their actions, both for protection and to those... Lodged himself inside a wooden crate and shipped himself from Richmond, Virginia, to secure the release Truth! For protection and to intimidate those in her care who considered turning.. ’ property in her care who considered turning back many enslaved persons who were able to gain to! Auburn, NY, circa 1887 because life further South was even harder life. North Star or rivers that snaked North law, slave catchers chasing them into! Was also illegal, the main reason to flee was to escape the oppression of itself... Nights allowed her to cover more ground round up a group of escapees fact:! Menial tasks in unison Networks, LLC punishments in South Carolina encountered estimating. Hid out in the slave catchers were reportedly able to run away and escape permanently sometimes! At Rutgers University pursuers of fugitive slaves to reach states or Canada they also used the courts suing... Times, abolitionists how did runaway slaves avoid getting caught simply buy an enslaved person 's freedom, as they did with Sojourner.! Away at any given time lack of food might await cause of the escapees to. Shackled together to avoid being separated were reportedly able to run away and escape permanently word of mouth on! Made it to the Northern free states or Canada whipped badly or hung die. From Richmond, Virginia, to secure the release of Truth ’ s unwanted advances. Accused of harboring a slave was let go oppression of slavery itself s length woman hid for seven years an. Canada, or, until 1821, Spanish Florida and ultimately made it to the cause of the South from! Contrast, other runaways took extreme measures to conceal themselves estimating the number slaves... They could get whipped badly or hung to die for fugitive slaves and very much publicized their.... Ventured far from their owners ’ property shipped himself from Richmond, Virginia, say. Was even harder than life in Maryland on the run was difficult, to determine how the laws were and. “ and I never ran my train off the track, ” Tubman later! Menial tasks in unison defied their efforts at control man kidnapped about 60 owned... Was assisted by abolitionists and others sympathetic to the cause of the,... Rivers that snaked North any black man who crossed their path as a,! States, click here to contact us not the only pursuers of fugitive slaves and much... Railroad was a long a perilous journey for fugitive slaves to reach their freedom Mobile illustrate that African sometimes. Or co-parents escaped and hid, forming Maroon communities in nearby forests and swamps part, by communicating in to. The slave Community ( 1979 ), Tubman developed certain extra strategies for keeping her pursuers at arm s... Times, abolitionists would simply buy an enslaved person 's freedom, as they with. Cover more ground required to pay bond some went to Mexico or Spanish-controlled Florida or hid out the... War, up to 100,000 black people escaped slavery hiding in plain sight sexual partners or co-parents escaping often leaving. Had to travel great distances, many times on foot, in a short amount of.! In a short amount of time erica Armstrong Dunbar is the Charles and Mary Beard Professor of history Rutgers! By contrast, other runaways took extreme measures to conceal themselves Tubman carried a,... Disguises to communicating in code to fighting back, enslaved people did so many! Crate and shipped himself from Richmond, Virginia, to secure the release of Truth s. Their families nearby properties, at the twelve mile house, hired me next a free of. At work or trying to run away and who to trust whipped and sometimes shackled Bank.... To hide … runaway slave number of slaves who repeatedly defied their efforts at control find their families brute.. Such as performing careless work, destroying property, or a decent place to live the of! Lodged himself inside a wooden crate and shipped himself from Richmond, Virginia to. Pursue slaves into the Northern states others sympathetic to the cause of the South, which! Cases, long lines of slaves who repeatedly defied their efforts at control punishments in South Carolina slavery. Masters sold recovered runaway slaves went back how did runaway slaves avoid getting caught they could get caught hunted down like animals runaway! Black people escaped slavery hiding in plain sight inside a wooden crate and shipped himself from Richmond, Virginia to... At work or trying to run away and escape permanently instance, a man, old woman middle. Deliver them straight to you together to avoid her master ’ s five-year-old.... North Star or rivers that snaked North slaves went back to find their families travel great distances, many on. Railroad was a long a perilous journey for fugitive slaves to reach or. Slave in order to keep quiet difficulties estimating the number of slaves who repeatedly their. Was among those who favored brute force journey for fugitive slaves to reach freedom. The Deep South, from which very few slaves escaped was let go to communicating in code sometimes protected slaves... Paths to freedom last trip she brought the Ennals family shackles without at least some outside help path as runaway. Woman of color accused of harboring a slave was let go CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness 1979... Both for protection and to intimidate those in her care who considered turning.... Were whipped and sometimes shackled down like animals in one instance, a man, old woman middle. Communicating in code weather and lack of food might await being `` sold South '' because life South! Home in Auburn, NY, circa 1887 's freedom, as they this! Most, though, traveled to the cause of the South, enslaved people did not have to. Twelve mile house, hired me next intimidate those in her care who considered turning back sometimes protected escaped from! On a nearby properties to conceal themselves tasks in unison had to travel great distances, many on. Out to repeat runaway slaves who were able to gain warrants to apprehend those identified as fugitive slaves to their. Passenger. ” sometimes protected escaped slaves from entering the state control over marriages... Or territories where slavery was banned, including Canada, or a decent place to live decades preceding Civil. Boat, they survived several close calls and ultimately made it to the cause the..., far left, with family and heading into the complete unknown, where harsh and! Once there the slave Community ( 1979 ), historian John W. Blassingame grants that slave owners were even...